Former Cy-Fair High School and Michigan tailback Sam McGuffie will enroll at Rice on Monday according to multiple NCAA officials. McGuffie had considered transferring to Houston and Texas A&M.

Rice officials are prohibited from commenting until McGuffie enrolls. The spring semester commences on Monday. Per NCAA transfer rules, McGuffie must sit out the 2009 season and will be a sophomore in ‘10.

One of the most decorated recruits from the 2008 signing class, McGuffie was nationally ranked as the No. 10 all-purpose back by Rivals.com. He rushed for 5,847 yards and 83 touchdowns at Cy-Fair, and after racking up multiple All-America honors, signed with Michigan despite having second thoughts over his commitment to the Wolverines on signing day. McGuffie produced 809 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in 10 games with Michigan, but elected to transfer following his lone season in Ann Arbor.

McGuffie made multiple visits to Rice during the Owls’ preparations for the Texas Bowl, which they won with a 38-14 victory over Western Michigan. McGuffie was in attendance at Reliant Stadium on Tuesday, and despite reports that A&M was the frontrunner for his services, opted to cast his lot with the Owls.

"Rice’s administration is really committed to athletics, and I really like it there," McGuffie told Rivals.com this week. "I’ve met all of the coaches, and they are an up-and-coming program."

McGuffie wanted to transfer to a school closer to home, and Rice became more attractive by winning 10 games in a season for the first time since 1949 and operating a spread offense that should take advantage of the speed and athleticism that made McGuffie a coveted recruit. McGuffie is the second high-profile student-athlete to transfer to Rice since the start of the season, joining former Alabama and San Antonio Churchill quarterback Nick Fanuzzi. Fanuzzi was one of the state’s top signal callers from the 2007 class.